The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-09-23

From the San Francisco Examiner.
A man who is well thought of by
the railroad fraternity is Hoyt Sherman
general agent of the Union Pacific, of
Salt Lake who arrived from that place
yesterday. He was first brought into
prominence by an adventure which he
had on the road from Beaver Canon
into the Yellowstone National park.
Mr.. Sherman was tourist agent for the
road, and when big party went up to
the park he would accompany them.
The distance from Beaver Canon is
1875 miles, and three years ago when
he had the adventure the road was
very primitive. Rough and rocky, it
wound its way through deep canons,
whose walls rose to magnificent heights
making the scenery awful and grand,
and then over the fertile plains,
through mountainous country into
timbered regions that could not be ex-
celled. There was something about
this drive that thrilled and delighted
passengers and made them want to
cover the distance again. But as
pleasant as they were they were not
free from danger. 1t lurked every
where. In the assures of the rocks
were skulking mountain lions Watching
the passage of the stage coach with
cleaning eyes, while panthers, more
cowardly yet fully as dangerous, perch
ed in trees that overhung the road on
which the stage travelled, would give
their fierce cry and perchance leap up
on its top to find that its occupants
we're beyond reach. Then the silver
tipped bear and big black bruin, on his
stately rounds for meat, would cautious
ly pass that way. Sometimes at night
the tourists would camp for change.
1t was one night that they did this
that Mr.. Sherman had his adventure
one that is not new to him now. They
camped in clump of timber below the
mountains and corraled the horses a
few rods off. 1t was about midnight
when Mr.. Sherman was awakened by
the neighing of horse. He got up
to reconnoltre and saw black object
pass near the corral The moon was
out In all her splendor, though the
trees shadowed the earth. Thinking
that the object was man and that he
meant to steal the horses, he TOOK his
pistol from his pocket and noticing
that his clasp knife was all right he
cautiously advanced. He was looking
about to see where the big black object
had gone, when, as though it had risen
from the ground big, black bear
stood in front of him.
First he thought to run, but this
would be death, for one stroke from
its powerful paw would lay him low.
The pistol was small one, but he
raised it after his first surprise was
over and pulled the trigger. 1t did
not go off. He Just remembered that
he had neglected to reload the weapon
that evening after discharging all the
cartridges. When the trigger snapped
the bear looked at the pistol curiously
and then at Sherman. The latter took
his knife out and slowly backed up un-
til he was protected by tree. The
bear followed and caressingly began
to hug him. Its hot breath was upon
his face and he grew faint. He rallied
and drove the knife to the hilt into
bruin, who, now fully enraged, rolled
Sherman on the ground. Now it was
fight or die. Another plunge and the
sharp edge of the steel went plowing
up the bear, fairly disemboweling him.
The struggle soon ended and though
Sherman was the victor he was not al
together unharmed The tourists
heard the noise and were IN time to
witness the end of the battle. For a
week after three Englishmen did moth
ing but curse their ill luck at not being
the man that the bear attacked.